CHERRIES travel to Merseyside for their final league game at Goodison Park, aiming to return to the south coast with their first three points of the season.

Andoni Iraola’s men head to Goodison with their hosts looking for a strong response after two heavy defeats in the league so far this season.

The historic ground is being used for its last season in the Premier League – with the Toffees set to move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for next season. The Daily Echo previews Saturday’s game in Liverpool.

Team news

AFC Bournemouth have a fully fit side, apart from those who underwent surgery this summer.

Max Aarons could return to the matchday squad after missing Wednesday's West Ham cup clash through illness.

Speaking on the team news for the Everton game, Andoni Iraola said: “I think everyone that was involved the other day against West Ham has finished well the game and probably they are a little bit tired because we played not a lot of hours ago.

“I think we can even recover Max Aarons, that wasn't involved because he was ill.

“So, I think Max will be able to come with us. And no, there is no other new injuries.”

Iraola is faced with a number of positive selection headaches.

Dean Huijsen had another strong showing alongside Marcos Senesi on Wednesday, with a different centre-back pairing starting each of Cherries’ competitive fixtures this season.

Evanilson played 45 minutes on Wednesday after starting last weekend against Newcastle, and Antoine Semenyo also came off the bench in the cup, after a strong start to the season.

Sean Dyche’s side will be without Jarrad Branthwaite Youssef Chermiti and Nathan Patterson, but Seamus Coleman, James Tarkowski and James Garner are all in contention to play.

Head-to-head

The last five games between the two sides have seen Cherries triumph on three occasions.

Last term, Everton beat Bournemouth comfortably 3-0 at home, as Cherries made a slow start to the season.

That result left the south coast side in the bottom three, with just three points from eight games, but come the return fixture at the Vitality Stadium, Cherries fortunes had turned around.

The home side was again the winner in that clash, with Bournemouth winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Dominic Solanke and a stoppage time own goal from Seamus Coleman.

Everton thought they had rescued a point after an 87th minute equaliser from Beto, but had to head back to the north west empty handed.

In fact, the home side has been the victor on each of the last five, with the past four games being in the league.

In the 2022/23 season, Cherries beat Everton 3-0 at home, but lost 1-0 at Goodison Park.

Last time out

Cherries head to Merseyside after a 1-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday at West Ham, while their hosts beat Doncaster 3-0 in the competition.

In the league, Cherries drew 1-1 with Newcastle last Sunday at the Vitality Stadium but thought they had snatched all three points thanks to a Dango Ouattara goal from a corner only for it to be chalked off by VAR.

Everton lost to Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 away from home last weekend in the league, after a 3-0 opening defeat at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.

The hosts lie in 20th in the Premier League, while Bournemouth are 14th.